I will be doing a custom cold air induction conversion, as posted in "Mod Ideas" in this forum, as soon as i hear back from the person that already did that. My question is, gutting the MAFS screens...is this a good idea? Will it help/hurt my car's performance? Will the ECM throw a code as a result? I just want to make sure I dont get anymore problems by doing this. Thanks in advance.

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

It will help. It will allow more air to flow through in a smoother passage. No codes or anything. Don't expect it to make a big difference, but with a cold air set up, high flow air filter and a gutted maf you will see some good improvements. Everytrhing adds up in the end, just remember 1hp in 10 differnt place is a total of 10hp you know what I mean?

------------------
89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

 

I agree it will help. I have done it to my car and did not notice a huge difference. Have you cut out the air box bottom yet? That helps give it a little more opwer as well.

 

Thanks guys. I dont expect a whole lot of difference in performance with just the gutted maf. I didnt cut out the airbox because i will be completely eliminating that airbox, and the other piece by my intake, and doing a custom cold-air mod there, with a K&N cone filter at the end. I just wanted to make sure that by cutting out the cold air screens on the MAFS, i wont be hurting anyhting, and it wont throw a code. Kyle F, "1 hp in 10 differnt place is a total of 10hp.." -yes...agreed. I know exactly what you are saying I really appreciate the help guys. Thanks again.



------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

DONT DO IT, It wont help unless you have like 400hp.. and you may get a code,,
try it, but id save the screens to put back on when you realize it didnt do anything, except maybe throw a code.

 

Dont do it? All i've done as far as mods go is a random tech cat and a flowmaster...so if i do a custom intake job w/a K&N, no other mods, then i will get a code?? Crap...well, i didnt do it yet, i was just wondering...

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

As long as you are careful when you remove the screens you'll be fine. Just don't touch the element inside the MAF, or allow any debris to fall inside.

I've been running a screenless, finless MAF for years and so far it hasn't given me any problems.

------------------
Jed
89 Formula 350

 

Jed...

Is your car stock, with no mods? All i have so far is an exhaust...new cat and muffler...no other mods at all....

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

Two year's ago I gutted my MAF sensor fins and all when my car was all stock. In the morning when the car was cold it would run really ruff and almost stall when I put it in gear and try to move. Now after all my mods were put in I decided to put back my screens in just to see if that would do anything to the car. I gained 2ths in the 1/4 mile and 0-60, also my cold start problem was gone!

I beleave my car was running lean because my MAF sensor would not read all the extra air that was going through it.

------------------
89 T-Top GTA 350 5-speed (soon to be 6-speed)
(Jet hot coated)1 3/4 SLP headers,flowmaster force 2,no cat's,SLP cold air,MSD 6al,jet chip stage 2,march pulleys,ported plenum,air foil,B&M ripper shifter,180 stat,alston SFC,spohn LCA relocation brackets,free mods.

G-Tech times
0-60 5.3s
E.T. 13.91@104.8MPH (2300ft)

 

Yea, i guess i will just leave the screens alone...i have been told by two other people to leave it alone. Thanks for the input.



------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

It's not going to hurt your car if you take out the screens and fins you can't expect it to run smooth if you don't have other mods tho. If you're going to be taking all this air in then you have to have a better exhaust to let the air flow out smoother. That's where the roughness comes in to play. Keep cramming air in and it has no where to go. Also leaner is better for power anyhow.

------------------
87 GTA

 

MAF Dr.Vader posted a huge therom on why NOT remove the screens. I took them out and had many problems..The car was always stumbling at 1/4 throttle..I put them back in and it eliminated the problem. I also went quicker in the 1/4 in both E/T and MPH. Search the archives for replies from Vader about the MAF screens. The post was called something like "Vader, what are your reasons again for not removing the MAF screens?"

 

I think "leave well enough alone" is what i will stick to in this case. I will do a search for that post. Thanks eveyone

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH

 

From what I've gathered, for every person that has removed the screens and fins and had problems, there are a dozen or more that have done the same thing and not had any problems at all. I've yanked my screens and cut off the fins and my GTA runs fine. Actual improvements are hard to guage cause at the same time I put in an airfoil, a K&N filter, and cut out the airbox at the same time, as well as set the TPS and IAC. Throttle response was much improved with all these together. No roughness, no codes, no problems. Everybody's car is different though. I don't think anyone will argue that. That's the primary argument against buying formula created ECM chips, but it factors into every other mod you have available too.

 

Yes, i will definetly agree to it, that "everyone's car is different," and will react differently. Its a game of chance that i cannot afford right now becasue of money issues...college takes alot of time away from being able to work and earn a living. That will change this summer, but right now, if i screw it up, i cant see myself spending $2-300 bucks for a replacement and repairs. So for now, screens stay. When i can afford it, i will screw around with it. Thanks.

------------------
1986 WS6-Equipped 5.0 TPI Trans Am
Random Tech High-Flow Cat
Two Chamber Flowmaster Muffler
Megs Custom 4.5" Stainless Steel Rolled Tips
1999 Grand Am GT In-Dash CD Player w/Equalizer(fits like '86 original)
5% Tint On Rear, 35% On Sides
http://www.pitt.edu/~zyhst/trans86/

OTHER RIDE:
1998 C5 6Spd. Corvette Coupe
Silver w/Gray Leather Int.
12/14 Options
Stock(for now)
Best 1/4th: 13.5 @ 104.4MPH